"We should always find a solution through the development of science and technology," she said.

Jiang Xiaoyuan, professor with the History and Philosophy of Sciences Department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said the Expo should also make people reflect on the importance of science and technology.

He said people should have a comprehensive understanding of science to prevent it from being used as a tool of capital and allow it to sound a warning on the effect on society if it developed too fast.

In the Urban Dreams Pavilion at the Puxi side of the Expo site, a large sculpture, composed of consumer goods such as a refrigerator, a TV set and car accessories, was hung from the pavilion's ceiling. It cast shadows on the walls on both sides -- one, displaying a disorderly city and the other, a harmonious city.

"It prompts visitors to understand that human beings have sacrificed their own living space, while seeking the further development of cities and reaping rewards from technology and manufacturing," read the exhibit description.